Can La get much higher?

La is Seattle's answer to Wiz Khalifa. Not only does he burn more trees than a forest fire, he also typically has something thoughtful to say when he rhymes. In honor of today's high holiday, he released a special 4/20-inspired track named after everyone's favorite pot-infused dessert.

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Didn't get the heads up on this one in time to squeeze it into Reverb Monthly's Electronic/DJ listings this month, but another world-class electronic talent hits Seattle tonight, right across the street from the also highly recommended Field show at Chop Suey: Ghostly International beat-maker Dabrye.

Dabrye is one of many aliases of prolific Michigan native Tadd Mullinix, who also produces jacked-up acid trax as James T. Cotton and as one half of the duo 2 AM/FM. As Dabrye, Mullinix indulges his more blunted, hip hop-leaning impulses, producing IDM-twitchy beats and minimalist grooves that have attracted such high profile guest MCs as J-Dilla, MF Doom, and Beans, but which stand equally well on their own, as instrumentals. Word is Mullinix keeps his various projects pretty cleanly separated, so don't expect the heady head nodding music to spontaneously erupt into 303 squelches all of a sudden--but do expect Dabrye's set to be well supported by Seattle's own local beat-making talent in the personages of DJAO, WD4D, and others.

Dabrye performs tonight at the Electric Tea Garden, w/ DJAO, WD4D, Jon Francois Stone, SHONUPH, and visuals by Absolute Madman, 9pm, $8 before 11pm, $10 after, 21+.

In the space of a mere six hours, Witch Gardens put together the above monstrous music video for a new song called "Rain Delay"--the video was filmed in the Central District house that Witches Casey Catherwood and Sara Beabout both lived in and were about to move out of, which is why they weren't afraid to throw cards, dump soda on the table, and in general get things messy.

"Rain Delay" will be released as a 7-inch on Highfives and Handshakes Records in October, with "Goodbye Ball" as the B-side.

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Got an email a few days ago from local band Sad Face hyping their show at the Columbia City Theater tonight. What caught my eye was the pre-show stunt they're planning on route to the gig.

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Sip & Spin is a new weekly feature on Reverb that asks local DJs what's in their crates and what's in their cup. For our inaugural edition, we caught up with DJ Terry Radjaw, best known for local hip-hop trouble/party-starters Mad Rad and Fresh Espresso, who has lately been indulging a more mellow and soulful side with a series of rooftop happy hours at the HG Lodge.

Where are you spinning?

Radjaw: Pinky's UP at the HG Lodge rooftop, 5-10pm on Tuesdays.

What's in your crates?

Currently I am feeling lots of '50s and '60s music--Chuck Berry to Terry Stafford to Diana Ross to the Animals to Jackie Wilson to all the classics. As well as Douster, Don't Talk to the Cops!, Weeknd, Millionyoung, Mr. HIll, Toro y Moi, Katie Kate, Metal Chocolates, & Fresh Espresso.

What's your drink of choice and where are you drinking it?

Pink Panthers [that's amaretto, vodka, pineapple, and grenadine], mojitos, and margaritas. It's summer, biatch, so anywhere outside. Captain Blacks, HG, or when I'm making them myself Wednesday nights at Moe Bar.

Tonight's Pinkys UP features guest DJ Jonathan Moore, lately manager of Shabazz Palaces and all-around 206 hip-hop mover from way back.

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Sure, big summer festivals full of critically acclaimed indie rock, local hip-hop, and beyond aren't for everybody. You know what is for everybody? EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRONIC IMPROVISATIONS! Amirite?! So, I humbly put it to you, dear Reverb readers, if you aren't planning on going to the Capitol Hill Block Party today (your loss, imo), then why not consider catching local duo/sometimes trio Brain Fruit tonight at the Rendezvous JewelBox Theatre, along with bands I've never heard of (but whose names I approve), Panabrite and Harpoon Pole Vault?

In the above clip, the Fruit sounds kinda like Lightning Bolt side-project Mind Flayer, but other clips, as well as my own fuzzy memories of seeing them, suggest that they can also drift into some less caustic, more ambient synth atmospheres. Any case, they're one of Seattle's better left-field outfits out there these days, and if you need an alternative to the hordes on the hill, the JewelBox could make for a cozy, mind-expanding option tonight. (10 p.m., $5, 21+.)

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Their latest album may not be my favorite of theirs, but even in their latest, higher-polish pop guise, there's a lot to love about Australian outfit Architecture in Helsinki. (And, really, most of the new album is pretty ace--I just usually don't make it through to the last few songs, and sometimes I skip "W.O.W." or "That Beep" depending on mood.) The band just have a great knack for the pop hook and for tight, deceptively intricate arrangements--glockenspiels and other orchestral toys on their early work, increasing amounts of synthesizer and drum machine on their more recent work. And they're good fun live, six members switching instruments (including that beardy, potentially vegan-looking dude hopping from synth drum pads to good old goofy-looking trombone).

Also worth catching are openers Hooray for Earth, about whom I know very little as yet, but whose synth-pop sound is pretty right up my alley:

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Not to take away from the accomplishment of local band Seapony, who tonight at the Vera Project are celebrating the release of their Hardly Art debut, Go With Me, but holy shit, do yourself a favor and get there in time to see 14 Iced Bears. It's a little baffling that such a veteran C86-era indie-pop act is opening for a fourth-generation (if generally pretty fine) take on the form, but the good news is that you get to see both bands, new and old, on one fey-to-the-rafters bill. Do not miss.

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Yeah, you and me both. That this rising dreamboat is playing a venue the size (to say nothing of the style) of the Tractor and not a much larger room is baffling, but there you go. James Blake cementing his post-post-dubstep singer/songwriter bona fides, I guess. But if you can't be there to witness the empty bass hollows, piano-man improvisations, and sparse vocal manipulations live, take heart: Blake will be performing live on KEXP this afternoon at 1 p.m. Lock yourself indoors, shut out the sun--or celebrate his subliminal yacht-rock side on your boat--and get into it.

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I assume you're already going to Wolf + Lamb vs. Soul Clap at Chop Suey tonight. If you don't know what's good for you, here's what I wrote about it in this week's Short List:

The (respectively) Boston- and NYC-based DJ duos of Soul Clap and Wolf + Lamb, who recently teamed for an entry in the DJ Kicks mix series, operate well within the tasteful, slow-burning mode of dance music, but they never fall into the dreaded chill-out trap. Their mixes keep things mellow but moving, artfully extending grooves touched by disco, funk, R&B, and deeper house into all-night-long durations. Tonight, they'll DJ for five hours straight, and you won't want to miss any of it.

But if all my pretty words don't convince you, just consider the above evidence, Soul Clap's dubby, slow-jacking reworking of "famed [fellow] Bostonian" Bobby Brown's new jack hit "Humpin' Around." Mmmmmm. See you tonight, then.

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